Running through the forest at great but cautious speeds, Ace Underwood, a human forcefully turned into a Blood Mutant, was currently battling within himself to turn back from what he was about to do. Not long ago, he and the other Blood Mutants were swept off their feet by a powerfully loud scream. Neither of them knew what or who caused the screams, and at first, neither of them wanted to stick around to find out.
However, Ace’s Blood Mutant System surprised him with a daring quest. According to the system, he had the option of fighting the creatures known as The Screamers to obtain five Blood Points. Blood Points, according to his system, could be used to automatically move him from the Blood Mutant Rank to the Blood Bishop rank. The Granians once spoke about the Blood Bishops, and according to them, Blood Mutants at that rank had the ability to turn others into Blood Mutants as well.
With this knowledge, Ace decided that he was not only going to kill one but try his luck at two. That way, he would be able to earn ten Blood Points so that he would move up a rank immediately.
His mind now made up, Ace decided to leave the others and ran into the forest. However, his sister followed him, not wishing to be separated from her brother again. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
[The Quest has begun.]
’A timer?’ Ace wondered, having never seen his system show such a thing before.
[Complete the quest in ten minutes or less to automatically move up by two ranks.]
’This is definitely going to be a nearly impossible quest.’ He thought. Suddenly, Ace found himself in an open area surrounded by large trees. The floor beneath him was covered with loose leaves.
Above him were large leaves and branches partially blocking sunlight from touching the forest floor. The environment was quiet. Too quiet for his liking. The wind that once blew gently stopped. The few rays of sunlight all magically focused on a being on the ground.
The being, or creature, had dark gray fur covering its body. Its head currently buried inside the cadaver of an Ibril beast. In the position it was in, the beast looked like a man bending over in the downward dog pose.
’What the hell?’ he wondered, taking in the distinct shapes of the beast. The creature had legs and hands like a man. Its waist was so skinny that he could see its pelvis bone and its chest was open, its ribs showing through easily.
On its head was a dark gray mane that highlighted its great large antlers which resembled tree branches.
’Is that some kind of humanoid deer?’ Ace wondered. All of a sudden, the beast raised its head slowly, its mouth covered with blood. It slowly turned and looked at Ace with a face that lacked eyes.
The beast’s body started to change shape. The fur on its body turned into a dark color of smoke. Its hands grew longer and the nails on its fingers grew into three-inch-long claws.
The beast opened its mouth and roared, its face slanting into a frown as it looked at Ace. The Blood Mutant opened its mouth and roared too, exchanging its aggression with the screamer.
Ace’s roar was louder and more powerful. So powerful that the beast felt threatened and then agitated. It opened its mouth, took in a breath so deep and strong that the loose items around were sucked in. For almost a full minute, the beast sucked in as much air as it could, causing Ace to take caution. Without wasting time, Ace created a blood shield the length of his body and planted it firmly in the ground. As soon as he did so, the beast, or Screamer, opened its mouth and let out a mighty scream so loud that it blew Ace off his feet.
His blood shield broke instantly, and his body was sent slamming into the massive tree behind him. For more than thirty seconds, the beast kept on screaming, the volume of its voice growing louder each second.
Once the beast stopped roaring, Ace’s body fell to the ground flat. His sides ached slightly, and for a moment, all he could hear were ringing sounds. "Damn it..." he cursed, his hands struggling to support his body upwards. As he was about to stand up, the Screamer flew at him with its claws ready to stab his chest. The beast let out a light scream, keeping Ace on the ground.
The Blood Mutant raised its hand and threw a blood spike at the beast. The blood spike passed through the Screamer’s smoky underbody and landed at the cadaver behind it. With its hand raised, the Screamer prepared to stab its claws inside Ace’s chest and head. However.....
A large, red body slammed into the Screamer and started clawing away at its hands and head. The two beings wrestled with each other, the red one being on top of the Screamer. Ace, having gotten up on his feet, watched as the red beast’s back grew tentacles that dug into the Screamer’s claws, leaving it defenseless. All of a sudden, the Screamer’s smoky lower body turned back into its legs which it used to kick the red creature off of it.
"Cherry!!" Ace gasped as he rushed to catch his sister’s body. Cherry twisted her body and landed on her hands before standing upright. Her face, filled with rage, stared at the beast as it ripped out the blood tentacles on its hands.
"You better thank God I got here in time."
"What are you doing here?" Ace asked and quickly bit his tongue. "I’m glad you came along but..."
"What were you thinking coming here?" Cherry interrupted, upset at her brother for putting himself in a position such as this one. "I saw eight more while coming here and they’ll be on us before we make it out of here...ALIVE!!"
[Time’s running out.]